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Liposuction Vs. Tummy Tuck - What's the Difference?

I've had 3 kids and definitely need some help in my stomach area, but I'm not sure if I would need liposuction, a tummy tuck, or both to get the pre-baby look I want.

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Do Liposuction First

My medical philosophy is to do the least invasive procedure first, whenever possible. It is pretty well established that tumescent liposuction of the abdomen (using only local anesthetic) has far fewer risks for the patient that a tummy tuck procedure (larger surgical procedure done under general anesthesia). When considering liposuction vs. tummy tuck, many patients mistakenly think that they have to choose either one or the other. I give them a third option - do a simple liposuction... more

Ilya Reyter, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Difference Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) and Liposuction

It really is difficult to say without an exam, but typcially, once you have had children, it is more likely that you will experience a better result from a tummy tuck. I have explained this in greater detail below. LIPOSUCTION An office visit/consultation (complimentary) is mandatory prior to scheduling the procedure. There is no way to give you an accurate quote via E-mail. We have 300lb individuals and 120lb individuals who ask about liposuction. It would not be fair to give both the... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction Vs. Tummy Tuck - What's the Difference?

Pregnancy really takes a toll on a woman's abdomen. When evaluating a patient such as yourself there are three areas that must be evaluated to determine which operation is best for you. First is the skin. Pregnancy really damages your abdominal skin. If there is a lot of loose skin this is best corrected by a tummy tuck. Second is the state of the muscles. Pregnancy causes a widening of the abdominal musculature which can only be addressed with a tummy tuck.... more

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Donald M. Brown, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction versus tummy tuck for pre-baby look

Which one is best for you- liposuction versus tummy tuck- depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Liposuction is a great way to get rid of fat, but will not get rid of stretch marks or extra skin, and will not bring together stretched apart abdominal muscles. (Liposuction in the wrong candidate can actually make you look worse!) A tummy tuck can get rid of extra lower abdominal fat, skin, some (occasionally all) stretch marks, and bring together the abdominal muscles to get you back to... more

Anita Patel, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck tightens, Liposuction Lessens

Tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is one of my favorite surgeries because the results are so much more impressive than anyone can imagine. The skin is tout and the belly is flat again. Women actually do wear a 2 piece bikini even if they did not prior to kids! Resection of all the fat & skin from the belly button down to, and including some of the hair bearing skin of the pubis is combined with tightening of the muscle in the midline to create a completely flat abdomen. Many thin... more

Kimberley O'Sullivan, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Lipo

Usually someone who has had three full term pregnancies will have excess skin. Liposuction alone really does nothing to address this problem. A full tummy tuck, on the other hand, involves removal of both skin and fat as well as tightening of the abdominal muscles which often have some laxity, especially after multiple pregnancies.

John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction

In my practice near San Francisco we encourage patients to think of their abdomen as two parts. The first is abdominal volume, the second is the skin envelope around the abdomen. Each may have a need for cosmetic improvement and the approach for managing a particular patient must be carefully tailored for that patient. Lipo is great for targeted permanent fat removal but not as good for skin envelope reshaping. Even with new gadgets like "laser lipo" most of the time if there is... more

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Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck - a major difference!

Liposuction (whatever method is used) primarily removes fat from below the skin surface and provides a moderate amount of skin tightening due to scar contracture. A tummy tuck does several things: Removes abdominal skin that is in excess, and resets the tone to the remaining skin Removes some fat from the abdomen Redistributes skin and fat from the upper abdomen to the lower, effectively thinning the abdominal wall skin/fat thickness Tightens the abdominal wall musculature, which both... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy tuck surgery involves 2 main components: Excising...

Tummy tuck surgery involves 2 main components: Excising the excess skin typically from the level of the umbilicus to the suprapubic region (often in an elliptical fashion) Tightening of the abdominal wall fascia from xiphoid to the suprapubic region. Consider the typical case of a woman after several pregnancies. During pregnancy, to accommodate the baby, the skin, as well as the underlying fascial structure (often mislabeled as muscle), stretches. Unfortunately, after delivery, not all... more

Christopher Chung, MD

Longview Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Many men and women are confused regarding the...

Many men and women are confused regarding the indications for a tummy tuck versus liposuction. Liposuction will only address the fat between the skin and the muscle, whereas, a tummy tuck addresses excess skin, fat and laxity of the muscle layer. The two most common indications for a tummy tuck are men and women who have lost a significant amount of weight and have loose skin in their mid-sections; and women who have lost their shape following pregnancy.

Rodger Wade Pielet, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Every mom is different

There is no way to answer your question without examining you or at a minimum being able to see photos of your abdomen. With that being said, in my experience most women that have had 3 pregnancies have 3 areas that need to be treated in their abdomen to give them the ultimate result. If you have issues with excess fat, excess skin with or without stretch marks and a bulging abdomen due to muscle diastasis following pregnancy than the only option for you would be a tummy tuck... more

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Renato Saltz, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction and abdominoplasty compliment eachother but achieve different goals

After three children you almost certainly have what is called a diastasis. A diastasis is when the paired abdominal muscles separate from the midline and the abdominal wall stretches. One of the most important parts of an abdominoplasty is a diastasis repair where these muscles are repositioned next to eachother this returns a beautiful hourglass shape to the abdominal wall.. Liposuction alone would not do this but should be combined with abdominoplasty. I prefer to... more

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Rian Maercks, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty vs. liposuction

The decision on whether to do an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) vs. LIposuction is actually quite simple if you can just break it down to answer 3 questions How thick is your "fat layer" ? is it too thick for your liking ? Can you grab it in your hand and feel excess fat ? If this is true, then you need to either lose weight by dieting or you may be a candidate for liposuction to reduce the thickness of this layer Do you have excess skin that is a significant issue... more

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Jay Burns, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Abdomoplasty or liposuction?

The procedure should be designed around what you need, want, and your deficiencies. After three children, I would expect your stomach muscles to be stretched as would be the skin in most cases. In these cases, even though you may have extra fat, a liposuction could appear to give you even more loose skin. A simple examination can give you these needed answers. If, however, you have had no separation of the abdominal muscles and your skin is reasonable tight, then a liposuction may be... more

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Ronald Finger, MD

Savannah Plastic Surgeon

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Liposuction vs tummy tuck after 3 pregnancies

Although liposuction and tummy tucks can both be used to deal with changes following pregnancy, the implications and potential results are dramatically different. Liposuction is ideal for contouring purposes and I almost universally combine this with my abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedures. In general, it is unlikely after three pregnancies to have an abdominal wall similar to your pre-pregnancy state. There may be excess skin, stretch marks and almost always some... more

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William F. DeLuca Jr, MD

Albany Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Choosing Liposuction vs Tummy Tuck

Liposuction has the benefit of minimal scarring while a tummy tuck actually removes excess skin and tightens the abdomen. Thus if you have a little bit of extra fat in a little pouch but not a lot of excess skin, then perhaps a liposuction would be a good option for you. However, after having had 3 children, you most likely have loose skin, strech marks, lax abdominal muscles (seen as bulging belly) which would be much more effectively treated by a tummy tuck. If you have... more

Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy Tuck or Abdominal Liposuction - How to Choose

With significant weight loss or pregnancy, the skin and muscle behave like your clothing - they become loose and don’t fit correctly. You have two choices with respect to clothing: buy new clothes or have your loose clothing altered. Surgery (alteration of the skin and muscles) is the only option when the skin and muscles are loose. To determine the best procedure for a patient, I visualize how the layers of the abdominal wall contribute to the appearance of that... more

Philip E. Fleming, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck vs. Liposuction

This is a very common question. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat and can also be used to tighten abdominal muscles that have been stretched apart. This is a surgical procedure typically done under general anesthetic. Liposuction uses small incisions to literally "suck" out fat from underneath the skin to provide a better contour. Most patients with also experience a degree of skin tightening with liposuction, and liposuction frequently does not... more

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John K. Wakelin III, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Liposuction,, or both?

The answer, as reflected by numerous colleagues below, really depends upon your anatomy, the result you are seeking, and how much time you want to dedicate to your convalescence. If your abdomen is thin, but the muscles have separated and you have excess skin, the only cure would be an abdominoplasty. If, as in most patients you have a mixture of both, you can have a choice. If you have a moderate amount of fat but redundant skin and the separation of muscles, a simultaneous... more

John E. Sherman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction vs. tummy tuck

Liposuction is sculpting and selective removal of some of the fat between the skin and muscle in the tummy and hip areas. A tummy tuck is removal of the loose skin that can be left behind after the changes from pregnancy with tightening of the muscle "fascia" to improve the appearance as well as function of the rectus abdominis (six pack muscles). This is also done usually in conjunction with some liposuction throughout the hips and thigh areas. If you have had three... more

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James F. Boynton, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The Difference Between Tummy Tuck versus Liposuction

Isolated abdominal contouring using liposuction is most commonly done only in patients that have had minimal fat and usually below the belly button area have not had children. After children, because of the widening of the muscles and the extra skin, liposuction usually does not work as well. In most cases it is only used as an adjunct especially for liposuction of the flanks, but not of the abdomen. In general, if you have extra skin above and below the belly button a full tummy tuck is... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction vs. tummy tuck- the answer is 'skin'

The answer here is pretty simple- if you've got loose abdominal skin, don't get liposuction. Your skin will become looser. Additionally, if you have a 'globular' appearance to your abdomen as a result of abdominal fascial weakness, liposuction will not improve that condition. A tummy tuck is a powerful procedure that addresses skin laxity, excess fat and abdominal wall laxity.

Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

One tummy tuck does NOT fit all!

This is one of the most common questions we hear in our practice. Patients come in a variety of shapes and sizes and with a number of concerns. If your skin has retained its elasticity and does not have too many stretch marks, liposuction alone may do the trick. In my practice, liposuction is included in ALL of my patient's tummy tucks. We do this because we strongly feel that liposuction helps us achieve results we otherwise cannot get with a tummy tuck alone. When choosing a doctor,... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction vs. tummy tuck: which should I choose?

Liposuction works well for women with excess fat that has been unresponsive to dieting and exercise--provided that the abdominal skin is not "stretched out" and loose. Liposuction will not tighten the abdominal wall following three pregnancies, so I doubt that you will be "flat." Tummy tuck addresses excess fat, skin laxity, and abdominal wall laxity. Although there are clearly exceptions, women who have had three children are more likely to benefit from tummy tuck... more

Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction & Tummy-tuck can go well together

Liposuction can be an excellent adjunct to a tummy-tuck. By itself, liposuction only removes fat, and skin will contract only so much. If your skin has looseness to it or a roll of excess skin, then you probably need some amount of skin removal as well. We also need to tighten the muscles if they have been stretched out with pregnancy or after weight loss. Your plastic surgeon can assess all these things during your consultation and help you determine what treatment is right for you.... more